"I just saw The Germs at Mercury Lounge. Amazing. Obviously Darby wasn't there. Shane West has taken over the role of lead singer in real life." [Jake Fogelnast]

by Black Bubblegum

Shane West shares a beer with a fan (Roger Krueger / www.punktures.com)

Remember that screening of What We Do Is Secret? Well, in an act of what the corporate types call "synergy", west coast punk legends The Germs (3/4 of 'em anyway) will play the Blender Theater (with Murphy's Law) on the same day that the movie hits Sunshine Cinema on Houston St in NYC, 8/8/08. Tickets for the show are on sale, tickets for the film are not (but will be here). Full tour dates are below.

For the reunion, actor Shane West (who portrays the late enigmatic frontman Darby Crash in the film) will be joined by original members Lorna Doom, Don Bolles, and Pat Smear.

It could be said that The Germs along with X, Fear, and Black Flag, were the most influential of the west coast punk bands of that era, and were documented in the now classic Penelope Spheeris documentary The Decline Of Western Civilization. Members of The Germs went on to join bands like 45 Grave, Nervous Gender, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, even The Go-Go's (yes, "Heaven IS A Place On Earth").
The LAist reviewed What We Do Is Secret almost a year ago.

Keith Morris, original member of Black Flag and founder of Circle Jerks will be in NYC to play the F Yeah Fest. Tickets are still available. Also expect creative ways of ingesting alcohol.

Germs (movie) videos (the trailer) and all tour dates below....

Continue reading "The Germs - a NYC show, Warped Tour shows, a movie "

The Germs biopic "What We Do Is Secret" will hit U.S. theaters in August thanks to a newly signed distribution deal with Peace Arch Entertainment, Billboard has learned. Screenings will be held New York (Aug. 8), Chicago (Aug. 15) and Los Angeles (Aug. 23).

Co-writer/director Rodger Grossman spent 10 years trying to get the movie made, ultimately convincing the mother of late Germs frontman Darby Crash to give her approval.

Actor Shane West portrays Crash, who died of a heroin overdose at age 22 in 1980. The other actors who play the Germs' members were taught to play instruments by Pat Smear, the band's original guitarist and music producer on the film, and their recordings were used in the movie.

The surviving members of the band actually toured with West as lead singer in recent years. [Billboard]